'Padanamuri' project in Kerala to help marginalised students by providing them with mainstream educational facilities

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In an attempt to bring students from the marginalised section of the society to the mainstream, the City Corporation has sought applications from students studying in high school, within the civic body limits, who require a study room in their houses. The city corporation will be allocating a fixed sum to the applicants to set up a study room in their houses under the scheme.

'Padanamuri' – a project of the Kerala State Development Corporation for Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe, was first launched in the district in 2017. The project was a big success in the previous year, which has inspired the Corporation to continue with the project in 2018.

The objective of the project is to help the students in their studies by providing them with all the facilities. The benefit of the scheme can only be drawn by students belonging to the marginalised section and who are also economically weaker. The parents of the student applying for the scheme should not be drawing an annual income above Rs one lakh. And also the student must be living in a house which has a minimum area of 800 square feet.

The fund for the implementation of the project is given by the state government. "This is not the project rolled out the Corporation. We are just an implementing agency. It is our duty to identify students who require these facilities in their houses," said Corporation SC/ST Officer Venu.

In the previous year, when the project was launched for the first time, there were around 48 applicants within the Corporation limit. "We have a target every year. Each year, the authorities have directed us to fund 42 students. But last year, the responses were overwhelming. We had given funds to all the students," said the officer.

Each student who apply for the project will be given a total aid of Rs two lakh. The amount will be given as installments in four phases. Either the students or parents can apply for to avail the benefit of the scheme. Presently, the scheme is giving aid to students are studying in standard seven and above.

According to the officer, most of the students coming from a poor background does not have a proper study room in their houses. It is very important to have a proper environment in the house for children to study properly. The project aims at ensuring this space and environment, added Venu.

The application for the project for this year will be closed by October 5. The officer said they had informed about the project in every school to inform the students. And they hope, like in 2017, more students will come forward to avail the benefits of the project.